Everett AquaSox Players Shine at 2026 Minor League Awards
Minor League Baseball revealed its 2026 season award recipients on Wednesday, with five members of the Everett AquaSox earning individual honors for standout campaigns.
Infielder Felnin Celesten claimed the league’s highest individual distinction, named 2026 Northwest League Most Valuable Player. Over 80 games with Everett, he posted a .314 batting average, launched 21 doubles, hit 13 home runs, and drove in 52 runs. His offensive consistency carried over into weekly and monthly accolades, including Northwest League Player of the Week honors on April 26 and May 3. His strong first half contributed to a midseason promotion to Double-A Arkansas on July 20.
Manager Ryan Scott highlighted Celesten’s steady approach as key to his success. “He stuck to his process every day and never let the moments get too big for him,” Scott said. “He went out there, was himself every single day, played really hard, had a lot of fun, and it’s really cool to see the numbers show that and to see him get honored with the MVP award at the end of the year.”
Statistically, Celesten led all qualified Northwest League hitters in batting average, on-base percentage (.409), and OPS (.943). His offensive profile anchored a group of five AquaSox named to the All-Star squad.
First baseman Brandon Eike, 24, of Powhatan, Virginia, was among the honorees after a breakout season, his second with Everett. A 13th-round pick (No. 393 overall) in the 2024 MLB Draft, he paced the circuit in total hits (129), while also finishing among the leaders in doubles (29), home runs (24), and slugging percentage (.535). His August performance earned him Northwest League Player of the Month recognition, and he wrapped the campaign with 79 RBIs.
Catcher Josh Caron, 23, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, returned to Everett for a second stretch at the start of the season. Selected by the Mariners in the fourth round (No. 121 overall) in 2024, he delivered power from the middle of the diamond, collecting 19 home runs, 17 doubles, and 62 RBIs in 66 games. Like Celesten, Caron earned a midseason call-up to Double-A on July 20 and was named Player of the Week on May 31.
Outfielder Carlos Jimenez, also 23 and hailing from Los Alcarrizos, Dominican Republic, made a strong impression in his debut High-A season. Signed out of the international market in July 2019, he recorded 110 hits, 24 doubles, five triples, 20 home runs, and 79 RBIs across 102 games. His speed added another dimension. Jimenez swiped 20 bases during the campaign.
Designated hitter Luke Stevenson rounded out the AquaSox contingent among the league All-Stars.
“Were always proud of winning organizational awards,” Scott noted, “and all of the credit goes to these guys and what they were able to do day in and day out. Seeing for 132 games that these guys were able to go out and be the best ones at their position in the entire league, and to have five of those guys, is always something special.”
AquaSox General Manager Danny Tetzlaff expressed strong enthusiasm regarding the selection of his players for the Northwest League All-Star team. Tetzlaff noted that the recognition serves as significant validation of the athletes' dedication while also benefiting the local fanbase. He emphasized that the pathway to professional baseball majors passes directly through Everett, describing home games at the stadium as an opportunity for spectators to witness high-level competition and observe future major league talent up close. The organization stated its pride in each individual named to the roster.
Among the highlighted performers is 22-year-old Stevenson, a resident of Flemington, New Jersey. The right-hander was chosen in the Competitive Balance Round A of the 2025 major league draft, holding the 35th overall selection. During his inaugural professional campaign, Stevenson demonstrated substantial offensive capability, hitting 22 home runs. He also recorded 83 runs batted in, a figure that led the Northwest League. His plate discipline was particularly notable, as he drew nine base-on-balls, which was 23 more than the next nearest player in the circuit. This resulted in an on-base percentage of .405. Stevenson was further recognized with Northwest League Player of the Month honors for July 2026.
The team is scheduled to begin its next season on April 2, 2027. The opening match will take place at Everett Memorial Stadium against the Spokane Indians.